MONSIEUR BLAKE ZU DIENSTEN review by Becky Tan
© MFA
MONSIEUR BLAKE ZU DIENSTEN
COMPLÈTEMENT CRAMÉ
FRANCE / LUXEMBURG , 2023 OPENING DECEMBER 21 , 2023
DIRECTED BY : GILLES LEGARDINIER
WRITING CREDITS : CHRISTEL HENON , GILLES LEGARDINIER
PRINCIPAL ACTORS : JOHN MALKOLVICH FANNY ARDANT , ÈMILIE DEQUENNE , EUGÉNIE ANSELIN , PHILIPPE BAS , CHRISTEL HENON
Andrew Blake ( John Malkovich ) mourns the death of his wife , Diana . He decides to leave Great Britain and return to Castle Beauvillier in France , where he and Diana met forty years ago . Now the residents are Madame Natalie Beauvilier ( Fanny Ardant ), who also mourns the death of her husband , as well as cook / housekeeper Odile ( Émilie Dequenne ). Odile assumes that Andrew is answering her ad for a butler — and why not . He jumps into the role , happy for an excuse to remain in the castle for free . The fourth person is young Manon ( Eugénie Anselin ), who also works as a housekeeper and attempts to hide her pregnancy , the result of an affair with boyfriend Justin . And then there is the gardener , Phillipe Magnier ( Philippe Bas ), who makes small houses to shelter porcupines . Each person relies on Andrew ’ s help and advice in various ways , until he falls from a ladder , lands in the hospital , and needs to support himself .
Director Gilles Legardinier based the film on the French book Complètement Cramé , which he wrote and published in 2012 . The German title translates literally to Mr . Blake at Your Service and “ service ” is definitely Blake ’ s job , both as a butler ironing newspapers for Madame Beauvillier , and as an advisor supporting everyone , especially Manon . The film begins with “ Andrew , for God ’ s sake , pick up ,” which is Andrew ’ s British friend Richard Ward on the phone . Richard eventually shows up , as does Melissa Berliner , a disloyal acquaintance of Natalie , and Andrew ’ s daughter , Sarah . All actors are excellent , but my favorite was the cat , Mephisto , who has a major role . The film allows us to experience actor John Malkovich , who seems to have grown older . He is successful in film , television , and theater , with his most recent film being Velvet Buzzsaw in 2019 . Monsieur Blake is a feel-good film about people coping with familiar problems , perfect to open in the cinema during the holiday season . 110 minutes .
44 HAMBURG HAPPENINGS